@MiamiTrack Shines at Hurricane Invitational

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program had a strong finish at their outdoor opening meet, the 2015 Hurricane Invitational.

After wrapping up a productive indoor season, several Hurricanes opened the outdoor campaign posting marks and times that rank among the best in program history.

“I thought the kids came out and competed hard,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “But like I told the team, it’s week one. You want to start strong, but the important thing is to finish strong and that’s our goal.”

Christian Cook, Anthony Wolliston, Robert Grant and Jaalen Jones posted a time of 40.83 seconds to finish first in the men’s 4x100m relay. The women’s quartet of Stefani Kerrison, Lateisha Philson, Trishelle Leacock and Kelsey Balkwill posted the fastest collegiate time, finishing second with a time of 45.93 seconds.

Jamika Glades was the fastest Hurricane in the women’s 200m dash, placing third with a time of 24.36 second. Balkwill finished sixth with a time of 24.91 seconds, while Leacock placed eighth (25.23), Anthonia Moore finished 10^th (25.52) and Meridith Louisville placed 14^th (25.82).

“Jamika stepped up and ran a PR in the 200m,” Deem said. “That’s really going to help her in the 400 hurdles next week.”

Balkwill was the fastest competitor in the women’s 400m, posting a time of 54.76 seconds, while Lateisha Philson finished fifth with a time of 57.03 seconds.

The Canes had the top two collegiate finishers in the women’s 100m hurdles as Jamika Glades placed second with a time of 13.59 seconds, while Stefani Kerrison finished third with a time of 13.63 secodns. Alexis Wright finished in the Top 10, placing ninth with a time of 14.23 seconds. Miami volunteer coach and former All-American Cory Nelms placed second in the men’s 110m hurdles.

“I think we have a shot to be really good in women’s hurdles and I thought that was a solid opener for us,” Deem said.

Freshman Zack Garland ran a personal-best time of 1:56.32 to place sixth in the men’s 800m run, while fellow freshman Trishelle Leacock finished ninth in the women’s 100m dash with a time of 12.18 seconds.

Three Canes finished in the Top 10 in the men’s 1500m. Douglas Dourado led the trio, finishing seventh with a time of 4:02.62, while Sean Grossman placed eighth (4:03.61) and Julien Primel was 10^th (4:04.14).

The 4x400m relays closed out Saturday’s running events and Miami’s relay team of Anthonia Moore, Jamika Glades, Taneisha Cordell and Amy Taintor combined to place second with a time of 3:42.20. The men’s 4x400m relay team of Anthony Wolliston, Robert Grant, Christian Cook and Henri Delauze finished first with a time of 3:11.64, while the quartet of Joseph Ryan, Ibrahim Dodo, Zack Garland and Douglas Dourado placed third with a time of 3:20.75.

“I was pleased with the men’s relays to come out and win a home event,” Deem said. “I think we are making leaps and bounds on the men’s side.”

The Hurricanes also excelled in the field events as Miami finished first and second in the men’s discus as Gian Piero Ragonesi posted the top mark of 52.57m, while Daniel Polinski finished second with a throw of 47.80m that ranks fourth in UM history. Ragonesi also claimed the men’s shot put title, posting a personal-best mark of 17.46m that ranks second in UM history. Polinski placed fourth in the men’s shot put with a throw of 16.39m that ranks fourth in school history.

Precious Ogunleye posted a personal-best mark of 51.16m to win the women’s discus and move into third place in UM history. Tiffany Okieme placed second in the women’s shot put with a mark of 15.56m, while Ogunleye finished third with a throw of 14.56m.

John-Patrick Friday posted a mark of 7.67m to win the men’s long jump, while Alexis Wright placed sixth in the women’s long jump with a personal-best mark of 5.32m. Niara Hill and Wright finished first and second, respectively, in the women’s triple jump. Hill posted a personal-best mark of 12.20m, while Wright also hit a career-best mark of 12.19m.

“I was really pleased with the jumps and throws,” Deem said. “It’s good to see JP continue to do well. Precious hasn’t competed for a year, so it was great o see her open up well.”

Next weekend, Miami will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to compete in the Florida State Relays on March 27-28.

For all the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @MiamiHurricanes, or “Like Us” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @MiamiTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. The program is also on Instagram.